The main idea of vegetarianism is based on the exclusion of meat from the diet. In recent years, a number of myths have grown up around this fashionable way of eating – what is true and what is false? Let’s check!
The first myth, which met with many people is that vegetarians are more prone to disease than meat eaters, are anemic and frail – which of course is not true. A balanced vegetarian diet is able to provide the body with all the necessary nutrients, so that it is able to cope well with disease (or more specifically, the immune system).
A meatless diet does not have to be boring at all – this is another hurtful myth. We can create fancy, delicious and easy to prepare dishes, drawing inspiration from the Internet, books or culinary TV shows, which increasingly focus on vegetarian recipes. Moreover, recipes for dishes without meat can be found in almost every cuisine in the world – it is not without a reason that in most restaurants you can easily find in the menu at least a few meat-free dishes to choose from.
Meatless diet is not the same as a slimming diet – it is not the absence of meat that promotes weight loss, but a calorie deficit. If we completely eliminate meat from our diet, but eat a lot of flour dishes, nuts, oils and full-fat cheeses – it is very possible that the weight will not move, or on the contrary – we will gain weight. If we want to follow a weight-loss diet based on meat-free products, it is worth consulting a nutritionist, thanks to the help of a specialist we will avoid many dietary mistakes, and our chances of losing weight without the yoyo effect will increase
A vegetarian diet provides the body with enough protein – it is present in most foods, not just meat! Particularly valuable sources of vegetable protein are beans, tofu, peas, lentils and chickpeas. It is worth noting that the daily requirement for this component in an adult human is about 1.2-1.5 g of protein per kg of body weight. We can meet these requirements in full by eating plant-based products. Remember that a properly planned diet excludes any nutritional deficiencies.
Many people to switch to vegetarianism discouraged by the fact of high costs, which in their view is associated with this way of eating – this is a mistake. Meatless diet does not have to be expensive. Unprocessed plant foods such as grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes are readily available and affordable. We don’t have to source exclusively from organic food stores, where prices can actually be quite high. We can buy healthy, delicious and affordable produce just as well at the local market
Another myth! Properly balanced meat-free diet, conducted under the supervision of a nutritionist in cooperation with a doctor, ensures the proper development of pregnancy. Many women who have been vegetarians for years have given birth to healthy children who grow like mushrooms. Children, who do not know the taste of meat, are in no way inferior to their peers, who eat poultry or other meat on a daily basis
Vegetarian diet in children still arouses controversy among the Polish society. However, in the opinion of child nutritionists and pediatricians, excluding animal products from the diet has many advantages – it reduces the risk of many diseases of civilization (such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension). As modern research shows, a well-balanced diet based on plant products does not carry any risks for the youngest.
